After Misaki Hayakawa left the floor, the entire energy of the 1st-year tryout deflated. It was like watching a professional chef step out, only to be replaced by a bunch of toddlers with spatulas.
The remaining girls were trying hard, but it was a chaotic scramble. Passes flew into the bleachers. Girls dribbled off their own knees. They were all nerves and sloppy fundamentals.
Yosuke, Ren, and Kenji watched for another five minutes as Coach Honda cycled through the rest of the hopefuls.
"You know," Yosuke said, breaking the silence as they watched a girl trip over the baseline, "I'm not a basketball expert... but that Hayakawa girl? The Ice Queen? She's... like, way better than everyone else, right?"
Kenji pushed his glasses up, nodding. "The skill gap is significant. It's not just her fundamentals. Her court sense is on a different level. The other 1st-years are reacting to the game. She was dictating it."
Ren said nothing, but he knew Kenji was right. She wasn't just playing; she was thinking, seeing the court in a way he recognized all too well.
"Man, their team is so stacked," Yosuke groaned, slumping in his seat. "Veterans who are legends, and now they get a 1st-year monster? It's not fair! Our boys' team is... well... you'll see. It's a national treasure of sadness."
FWEET!
Coach Honda's whistle cut through the gym again. "Alright, that's enough! Everyone, on the line! Now!"
The 1st-years, panting and sweating, scrambled to form a ragged line. Misaki, who had been quietly stretching with the veterans, stood up and watched, her face as impassive as ever.
Coach Honda paced in front of the line, her clipboard in hand. "This was... a tryout. Some of you have potential. Most of you have a lot of work to do." She stopped in the middle. "If I call your name, step forward. You've made the A-Roster. The rest of you will be on the development squad. Practice for the development squad is Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 4 PM."
The gym was dead silent.
"Hayakawa, Misaki. Point Guard."
Misaki didn't react, but a few of the veterans clapped.
"Knew it," Yosuke whispered. "She's the new boss."
"Akamatsu, Kaede. Shooting Guard."
The girl with the bright red hair, who had been running everywhere at 100 mph, let out a massive, "YES! DID YOU HEAR THAT?!" She was so fast she was almost out of control.
"Oh, that's Red," Yosuke said. "She's in our homeroom block. She's... a lot."
"Kirigiri, Kyoko. Power Forward."
A tall, calm girl with glasses, who had been quietly grabbing rebounds and playing smart defense, just nodded and stepped forward.
"Hmm," Kenji noted. "She's a smart pick. Good defensive instincts."
"Fujisaki, Chihiro. Point Guard."
A tiny, almost fragile-looking girl, who had surprised everyone with a slick crossover and a perfect no-look pass, looked like she was about to faint from shock.
"Whoa, the tiny one!" Yosuke said. "She's got moves! But Natsumi-senpai is gonna snap her in half."
Coach Honda looked at the four girls who had stepped forward. "Congratulations. You four are on the main roster. Your first practice is tomorrow morning. 6 AM. Sharp."
The four girls nodded. The rest of the 1st-years looked devastated.
Yosuke, however, looked physically ill.
"Six... A... M?" he whispered, his face pale. "On a Saturday? That's not a club, that's a punishment. That's... that's just evil." He stood up abruptly, brushing dust off his pants.
"Alright, I'm bored of competence. This is just making me feel bad for our team. Let's go see the real show."
He jerked his thumb toward the main gym, where the distant, chaotic sounds of clanging rims and incoherent yelling were just starting to build. "Wanna go see the 'Hall of Shame,' guys? The main event is starting."
Kenji stood up. "I suppose we've seen the peak. We might as well observe the valley."
Ren was the last to stand. He gave Misaki one last look. She was already being pulled into a stretching circle by Captain Asuka, looking like she'd been on the team for years.
He turned away from the scene of quiet, lethal competence.
"Sure," Ren said. "Let's go."